European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 22, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes tuesday november 22,1988 coordination at Ramstein faulted germans split on Best method of care by Janet d Agostin medical a tiler Mainz Wisl Germany German doctors speaking monday to a Rhein land Fala commission investigating the Ramstein air show disaster were divided Over the Best Way to treat injuries in a emergency of such magnitude. Sortie doctors said Thebes method Isth German concept of giving patients As much first Aid and treatment As possible at the disaster site and then transporting them to a Hospital other doctors said thai when there areas Many injuries As at Ramstein it is better to transport patients As soon As possible to hospitals rather than wait for them to be treated by a doctor at the scene. A the doctors and emergency work in speaking to a group of state parliament members a forced that coordination and communication among the various Rescue groups were chaotic seventy people died and Hundred were injured As a result of the aug. 28 disaster at rams Cin a which occurred when three jets of an italian air Force slum flying learn collided. Or. Stefan , chief doctor Ofa Ger Man air Rescue group based in Stuttgart said his impression when he arrived at Ramstein was that the americans were separating the dead from the living and transporting patients to hospitals in an vehicles that were available before giving them first Aid. One school bus carrying several severely injured patients Tell with Only a Driver aboard and no medical personnel he said. The bus arrived two hours later at the Ludwigshafen City Hospital be cause the Driver who did not speak Ger Man got lost Chr said. Or. Otmar Tran la said that the More than 40 patients transported to the Surgi Cal clinic at the University of Saarland had been Well cared for by the Ameri cans before they arrived at his  said it was better to get the patients away from the scene As soon a possible rather than waiting for hem to be treated by a doctor. The americans have a very Good sys tem of emergency care for accidents and disasters and know what they arc doing he said. Or. Werner Oberbeck of kaisers Lau Lem City Hospital agreed with Trenti saying that the american system of quickly moving patients out of the Dan Ger zone was appropriate because explosive materials from the italian Jet threatened patients and rescuers. A preliminary report released Las month by the . Defense department praised the professionalism and effectiveness of the combined German and american response to the  i noted thai the tint medical evacuation helicopters were on the scene within four minutes and that five primary medical triage Sites were operating within 10minutes. All cuu Altieri were evacuated within about 1 i hours. Doctors and rescuers criticized the German transport system used in major disaster claiming that there u no coordination when is Fine for emergency vehicles and directing them to appropriate hospitals. They suggested a Central res Cue Headquarters thai could coordinate the transportation of patients so Hospi tals would do be overloaded or receive patients they could not handle. Or. Peter Zellner head of the Burn unit at the workers compensation Acci Dent Hospital in Ludwigshafen said that because of poor common Jet Ion Noone asked he Burn specialists at his hos Pital to evaluate patients before the were transported. Some hospitals Wen unable to care Tor severely burned Vic Tims and the patients had to be taken to the Ludwigshafen unit he said. The Ludwigshafen Hospital is one of inc Busl bum centers in West Germany. A problem of coordination arose be tween German and americans because nol All of the americans knew where German hospitals were adding to the confusion said or. Wolfgang Herbig of Kaiser Lautem cily Hospital. German and american Rescue were unable to work together during Ibe disaster because of the language Barrier take coordinator for the German red Cron. He said the germans also were unaware of what kind of american emergency services were available a the crash site adding that the German red Cross was Only equipped to Deal with Basic first Aid. Another doctor who worked with the German air Rescue group said the Heli copter Crews were Given conflicting information about what was happening at Ramstein Al one Point seven Rescue helicopters called to assist were told to return to their Home bases. But person Nel it the Home bases decided the Heli copters should continue on to Ramstein anyway he said. The German doctors said they would hold More meetings to determine what could be Learned from the air show disaster.  Lomi report he a Ommul Kuhnz air show disaster Cost May run to $ 174 million germans say world today by Deedee Arrington Doke Kaiserslautern Bureau the Cost of the Ramstein air show disaster ultimately could run As High As Between too million and 300 million Marks s58 million to $174 million Ger Man officials predicted monday. With the nov. 2g deadline for filing Ramstein re laced claims with German authorities fast approaching. Spokesman Dieter stir of the West German defens ecos office in Koblenz said his Agency already has paid out 3.8 million Marks about �2.2 million. In connection with the aug. 28 catastrophe that killed to people and injured hundreds More. Style said the High financial consequences May re sult from continuing payments for medical expenses and for people disabled in the disaster who can Rolong Crork. Athe tragedy occurred when three italian air Force jets collided during Ari Aerial Man Euver. One Jet crashed into a crowd of spectators. Claims filed by americans with the . Air Forcer army Are due nov. 27. The Date Marks the end Ofa three month period following the tragedy in which damage claims May be hied under German Law which has jurisdiction under the nato status of Force agreement. A . Air Force investigation into the Accident asunder Way. The West German parliament also is con air Force officer in Sicily killed when struck by train Comiso Sicily is an air Force office assigned to Comiso As was killed when he was struck by a train nov. 13, an air Force spokesman said monday. ,. First it Johnnie Joel Graves 23, a missile launch control officer assigned to the 302nd missile so 487th tac missile Wing was struck from behinds he was walking along tracks near his Home in Comiso Cpl. Mike Korma k said. There were no witnesses to the 11 . Incident an italian police spokesman said monday Graves a native of Jackso Vilic Ark is survived by his parents. Although Graves death is believed to be on Acci Dent Kormanik said aboard of officers is investigating. Italian officials also arc probing the death. Funeral services for Graves who had been Sla ironed at Comiso for two years were held wednes Day at the base Chapel. Ducting an investigation into events surrounding the Ramstein disaster. The Koblenz defense Cost office is handling dam age claims of More than 5,000 Marks about $2,900. The kaisers Laulom Branch is handling smaller claims a total of 1,158 claims for personal  have been filed with the Koblenz office. Selz said his office expects that figure to increase to be tween 1,200 and 1,500by next week s deadline. In  defense Cost office authorities said 128 claims have been hied. Spokesman Paul it ulcer estimated that half the claims have been paid but he could col provide an estimate of How much has been paid. Among the claims hied with the Koblenz office Wasa pollution complaint from Ramstein City authorities who alleged hat fuel front the downed aircraft contaminated the ground Stelz said americans have been asked to provide notice of claims with their respective air Force or army Legal offices.-. The air Force and army arc picking up the tabs for personal property  of last week the air Force had received 31 per Sonal property damage claims of which 28 had been adjudicated for payment at a total value of More thanj6.000. Three claims totalling $8,754.51 for damages to vehicles await adjudication said master sgt Milton Ruf fins non commissioned office in charge of claims atthe Ramstein a Legal office. ,. The most expensive claim paid by the air Force amounted to $5,401.36 for vehicle damage Ruffins said. Typically other property claims have been for such items As glasses Elohim a and purses. The number of personal property claims filed locate has been tremendously less than expected Ruf v fins said.  -. ,. The army has received and paid seven property damage claims fora total of $4,175, said la col Brian Bush Deputy commander . Army claims service Europe-.,- ". -. Bush said he expects . Personal properly damage claims to comprise a very minor pan or ultimate damage costs. He would not speculate on what the final Cost would be of the disaster. . Claimants Are encouraged to Contact local air Force or army claims offices for assistance. To Contact German authorities directly claimants May write Morcall Ami fur  Ferdinadd Sau Erb Ruchser. 17, of Sfach 14 47, s4qo Koblenz or call0261-493-2272 or 2236 or 2289. Dmitri Birttie to to report toy von m Kim Duun moving up in Boon wot Germun Chancellor Helmut Koh congratulates health minister Rita sum out on her Boylu Iloa to me need it Slipp jct Alagar a president of the West German Parturient. Jeo Ninger resigned in the Wake of Modh  on Lee 50th anniversary of  Ibe beginning of Hitler s pogrom against the jews australian population Rose 268600 last year Canberra Australia